Match-safe.



A. J. HOMBURG.

MATCH SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18,1914.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

31mm Alfi'edflyamburg,

THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PNOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D L.

ALFRED J. HOMBURG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-SAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. Hormone, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to provide a match safe of a simple construction and which is adapted to be hung on a wall or bracket, the match safe being designed and arranged to deliver a single match at a time.

The invention comprehends, among other features, the provision of a match safe which will deliver a single match at a time and which is particularly adaptable in stores or tobacco shops for the purpose of preventing purchasers from taking too many matches, as is ofttimes the case when the usual box of matches is placed in view on a show case for free distribution.

With a device of the character described the matches will be delivered one at a time to a place which will permit of the user conveniently removing the single match pre sented to view and wherein, when one match is removed, another match will take its place.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote correspondng parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the flaps removed; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the views, I disclose a receptacle 10 of a substantially rectangular configuration, and preferably open atthe top, the said receptacle having a plurality of eyelets 11 attached thereto and whereby the receptacle can be supported on a wall or bracket. The lower end of the re ceptacle 10 terminates in inclined relatively converging plates 12 forming continuations of the front and rear walls 13 and 14 of the receptacle to provide a restricted slot 15 slightly longer than the length of a match and of slightly greater width than the tllilln' eter of the match stick. The sides 16 receive the plates and at their lower ends are tapered and have the plates 12 secured thereto so that the plates will be arranged in relatively converging position as mentioned, and the extremities of the sides 16 terminate in pointed lugs 17 extending downwardly beyond the lower edges of the plates 12. The plates 12 have cut away portions 18 therein as shown, and mounted to swing upon the front and rear faces of the receptacle 10 are flaps 19 which project downwardly and cover the plates 12, said flaps being adapted to extend beyond the lower edges of the plates and have their lower edges extend down to the lower ends of the pointed lugs 17 as shown. The flaps 19 are also provided wlth cut away portions 20 registerlng with cut away portions 18, and it will be particularly noted that the lower edges of the flaps 19 are adapted to normally engage and the said flaps are held in closed position by springs 21 whiclrhave their medial looped portions loosely arranged in staplcs22 or other suitable bearing members on the side 16 of the receptable 10, the free ends of the said springs being crossed with one end of each spring secured to one of the flaps and the other end of each spring secured to the other flap so that the said flaps will be held in relatively closed position by the springs. The front face of the receptacle 10 is preferably provided with a serrated portion 23 on which the matches are adapted to be struck.

A box of matches 24 is adapted to have an edge thereof opened and the box of matches is then placed withinv the receptacle so that the matches will gravitate into the receptacle, and it will be apparent that the lowermost matches will be clearly visible through the cut away portions 18 and 20 so that the lowermost match can be readily gripped and pulled outwardly against the tension of the springs 21 holding the flaps 19 in closed position, said lowermost match being adapted to pass through the restricted slot 15 and normally bear against the lower relatively closed portions of the flaps 19 and which, when closed, will prevent the match from falling to the floor but which will open to permit the removal of the match from the match safe when a pull is exerted on the lowermost match which is suflicient to move the flaps against the action of the springs 21. It will also be apparent that each time that a match is removed the next lowermost match will take the place of the removed match and thus there will at all times be a match in position for removal from the match safe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a match safe, the combination with a of, said plates being relatively tapered to converge toward their lower ends and form a restricted slot, said plates being further provided with registering cut away portions, flaps mounted to swing on the receptacle and covering the said plates, with the said flaps adapted to relatively converge and have their lower edges normally abut, said flaps having cut away portions registering with cut away portions of the plates, and looped springs having their medial portions loosely supported on the sides of the receptacle and their free ends in rigid connection with the said flaps, whereby the said flaps will be relatively held in closed position to normally hold a match adjacent the restricted slot formed in the said plates, with the said match extending across the cut away portions of the plates and the said flaps,

2. In a match safe, the combination with areceptacle adapted to receive matches, of plates on'the receptacle and forming continuations of the front and rear walls thereof, said plates being relativelytapered to convergetowardtheir lower'ends and form a restricted slot, said plates being further provided with registering cut away portions, flaps mounted to swing on the receptacle and covering the said. plates, with the said flaps adapted to relatively converge and have their lower edges normally abut, said flaps having cut away portions registering with the cut away portions of the plates, looped springs having their medial portions loosely supported on the sides of the receptacle and their free ends in rigid connection with the said flaps whereby the said flaps will be relatively held in closed position to normally hold a match adjacent the restricted slot formed in the said plates, with the said match extending across the cut away portions otthe plates andthe said flaps, and pointed lugs formed by tapering the sides of thereceptacle at their lower ends, with the said pointed lugs-lying between the flaps, said pointed lugs prO ecting downwardly beyond thesaid tapered plates and lying between the free edges of the said movable flaps.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED J. HOMBURG.

,VVitnesses ANNA M. OBORN, G. T. B. Goonsrnnn.

Copies ofthia patentimay. be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZEatents,

Waehington, D. G. 

